Developing a Research Loom for Weaving Stories of Sustainability
Author(s): Kyle Bocinsky
Year: 2025
Summary
This is an abstract from the "Multiscale Data and the History of Human Development in the US Southwest" session, at the 90th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.
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Looms are essential tools for weaving — they provide the necessary structure to produce even, consistent fabric. By simplifying and accelerating the weaving process, looms also encourage creativity and experimentation. Often, the archaeological research process resembles the woven arts: we weave stories about the past from the warps and wefts of archaeological, environmental, and contemporary data. <b>The Role of Human Networks in Sustainable Development</b> project seeks to weave stories of sustainable development in Ancestral Pueblo societies of the US Southwest. Sustainable development, which combines prosperity, inclusiveness, environmental sustainability, and peace, depends not only on technological advancements but also on social dimensions rooted in norms, values, and institutions. Before we began weaving these stories of sustainability, however, we had to build the research loom. This presentation will highlight two interoperable research tools: <b>cyberSW</b> for analyzing archaeological data on settlements and artifacts and <b>SKOPE</b> for accessing paleoenvironmental reconstructions. By integrating these tools with regional bioarchaeological data on human wellness from the <b>HNDS-BIOARCH</b> project, we are assessing how local and regional network structures contributed to sustainable development from AD 800–1600. Ultimately, our work aims to weave stories of sustainable development in ancient societies into the fabric of knowledge used to address contemporary challenges.
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Cite this Record
Developing a Research Loom for Weaving Stories of Sustainability. Kyle Bocinsky. Presented at The 90th Annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology. 2025 ( tDAR id: 509082)
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Abstract Id(s): 51254